Sun 15th April: Dobby is waiting for a home

Food, birthday cake and gifts for my extended birthday

My birthday celebrations continued today (how lucky is that, having a birthday that lasts a whole week?) when the regular Sunday volunteers came over to Lamma with lunch, a cake and wonderful gifts.  We were joined by one of our early volunteers, Rachael, who had to retire when she had baby twins, but she still visits from time to time to walk a couple of her favourite dogs from Pokfulam days.  We have a perfect built-in venue for gatherings outside the temple on the beach, and as always the small ‘delinquents’ were invited.  Murphy came along too, showing his angelic – and pathetically clingy – side, never moving further than a few inches from my legs.  He even jumped on the sampan – twice – when it was time for me to leave for Whiskers’n'Paws, and had to be forcibly removed.

Murphy at my legs

Murphy had to be evicted from the sampan - twice

Leaving for Whiskers'n'Paws with Rachael and an assortment of hangers-on

Baby pups leaving for their 2-week foster home (a third is out of sight)

After I had gone the volunteers spent a few hours giving the dogs their much-needed spring/summer haircuts, and to top off the afternoon May offered to take my three babies home for fostering.  They’ll be ready for their first Sunday afternoon introduction in two weeks if you’re interested.

Shy Kiku was the only puppy chosen today

While I was expecting Easter Sunday to be quiet and it wasn’t, today I thought there would be a good number of adoptions – and there weren’t!   It was a first visit for Melody and Aria, and while they had a whole bunch of admirers they still came home with me at the end of the day.  Next week maybe.  Instead of these super-friendly sisters, it was shy Kiku who was chosen, and I’m happy about that.  Timid puppies grow into very loyal and affectionate adults, and while they usually retain that shyness with strangers they are very different with their own families.

Funny Terence found an igloo to hide in but he's really not shy at all!

One puppy I really didn’t expect to be shy was Terence.  I brought him home just recently from AFCD with another puppy he’d shared a kennel with there (Amber), and I was amazed at how both of them immediately acted as if they’d lived with me, and all the other dogs and puppies, all their lives.  There was none of the usual initial reluctance to run around and play, and both treated me as if I had been their “mother” for a long time.  I’ve really never seen that before, and I think it may be because they felt they already knew me from having seen and heard me at AFCD, but that didn’t really explain why they took to the whole new environment so easily.   Because of their confidence when arriving at my Lamma home I thought Whiskers’n'Paws would be a breeze for them too, and while I don’t usually take puppies to adoption afternoons so soon, as they are older (Terence is four months and Amber six, although she’s quite small) I decided I would.  I was completely wrong about how they’d behave, as both pretended to be really shy and scared and the outgoing, happy and affectionate characters that I knew disappeared.  Terence found an ‘igloo’ dog house to hide in, and it was only when I got him and Amber back home that they reverted to their usual jumping-up-and-licking behaviour.  I know he’ll be happy to find a home of his own but he’ll have to put himself out there to get it.

Dobby is another doglet that really needs a home.  He’s too big to take to Whiskers’n'Paws now, but as the only one of his Whippety litter not to be adopted yet I really feel for him.  He’s a fantastic boy who loves everyone.  He spent his puppy time in the same foster home as George (and currently Baxter) where he played with the cat and learned to be a real house dog, so he comes with great references.  If you are looking for a wonderful, handsome, sweet and funny young adult to join your family, look no further.  Ask to meet Dobby ………

Dobby loves to swim

...... and he loves to run